The picturesque town of Bellagio, located at the point where Lake Como branches into two legs, features a wide variety of shops, charming walkways, markets and restaurants.

The picturesque town of Bellagio, located at the point where Lake Como branches into two legs, features a wide variety of shops, charming walkways, markets and restaurants. (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Last spring, I visited Lake Como in northern Italy, about 50 miles north of Milan. The lake, shaped like a wishbone, is one of Europe's deepest as well as one of its prettiest, luring the wealthy and famous for centuries. Hopping from ferry to ferry, I sampled a grab bag of towns on its western...